An animal science graduate student, Alexis Trench, has a unique combination of interests in animal research, science education and mentoring women in STEM disciplines while leaving time for dancing and being outside with lambs on the farm. Here is what she says about her experiences at UConn.
Where did you study as an undergraduate? What was your major? At the University of Delaware, I was a double major in pre-veterinary medicine and animal biosciences, and agriculture and natural resources. I also had a minor in dance.
Why did you decide to go to graduate school? Around my sophomore year, I decided that veterinary school wasn’t the path I wanted to take. This was partially because of the massive amounts of debt this education would bring and partially because I didn’t have a strong desire to be a practicing veterinarian.
I got into undergraduate research my junior year and stuck with it through my senior year. I worked in a dairy nutrition lab under Dr. Tanya Gressley at the University of Delaware. She mentored me as I deliberated going to graduate school. I spent a year working after graduation while I looked for the right graduate school program and then started applying.
